3 Madison stores accused of selling liquor to minor

Register Staff /

Published
12:00 am EDT, Monday, June 18, 2012

MADISON -- Three local stores that sell liquor had a sobering experience earlier this month: they were caught selling to minors in an undercover operation featuring town police and liquor control agents with the Liquor Control Division of the state's Department of Consumer Protection.

The businesses that allegedly sold to a minor will be brought before the Liquor Control Commission for an administrative hearing, where they can address the charges.

Volunteer minors, trained by the Governor's Prevention Partnership, worked with enforcement officers and assisted in the operation by entering each store and attempting to purchase beer or liquor.

"We don't try to trick or entice establishments to sell alcoholic beverages to youth," said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein. "If asked for proof of age before making a liquor purchase, the volunteer youth will hand over his or her actual photo I.D., which clearly indicates that they are underage."

According to a state spokesperson, on June 9 checks were conducted of all package stores and grocery stores licensed to sell beer in Madison. Nine were tested for compliance; it is alleged that three failed by selling to a minor. Those stores are: Franco's Wine and Liquor, 44 Boston Post Road; Madison Wine Exchange, 188 Boston Post Road: East River Package, 270 Boston Post Road.